Opening games of rugby season
Gulu vs Kobs 4.30pm, Gulu
Rams vs Heathen 2.30pm, Makerere
Impis vs Pirates 4.30pm, Makerere
Warriors vs Rhinos 4.30pm, Legends
Buffaloes vs Mongers 4.30pm, Kyadondo
Three weeks have passed since Black Pirates beat Betway Kobs 27-22 in the semis of the Nile Special Uganda Cup.
It’s also almost two months to the day when Shell Rimula Rhino coach Brian Makalama warned that he “wants to win everything” after acquiring forwards Scot Oluoch and Mathias Ochwo.
However, those two earthquakes were reduced to tremors by the aristocrats of the game here. Kobs authoritatively beat Rhino 29-16 in the quarterfinals. Pirates then lost 20-17 to Hima Cement Heathens in the final.
Like many times before, such results pointed to an altering of the tide. All have proved to be false dawns.
Only Kobs and Heathens have managed to win the Rugby Premiership over the last two decades. As the 2016/17 league kicks off today, how much the rest challenge the pair remains the only quiz.
Among the potential contenders, Heathens go first, visiting Rams at Makerere, in their hunt for a 10th title just a fortnight ago after clinching a record cup title.
Players’ Mohammed Athiyo replaced the unpopular Robert Seguya as coach. He has now added youngsters Kenneth Okongo, Nicholas Kato, Aaron Wanyoto and Charles Senteza.
However, Philip Wokorach’s x-factor remains the out-of-jail card even if he and several Rugby Cranes 7s stars may not feature for their clubs for the next month ahead of the HSBC World Series.
Their rivals, champions Kobs, travel to Gulu for the season opener hoping for the same consistency from last season when every team struggled. They will be without centre Oscar Kalyango (all season) and veteran lock Victor Wadia (three months) due to injury. Wing Justin Kimono will return after more than a year away. Like Heathens, they have promoted Ian Munyani (centre), Kenneth Alwong (lock) and Edgar Seruwagi (flank) from junior side, Boks.
Kobs and Heathens will want to hear the message from Pirates’ talisman, eighth man Marvin Odongo ahead of the latter’s visit to Makerere to face Impis.
“We want to win the league” Pirates’ captain Odongo warned, re-echoing Makalama’s voice.
Elsewhere, Toyota Buffaloes host Sadolin Mongers in the closest game. The former are stronger unit with the return of Charles Uhuru, Gerald Sewankambo and James Odongo from Kenya’s Kabras Sugar.
Coach Edgar Lemirigar should emphasize on taking it one game at a time.
(Daily Monitor)
